Frequently Asked Questions

1My water looks clear and doesn’t smell bad, how do I know if it is safe?

The only true way to determine if a water supply is safe is to have a water analysis done by a professional laboratory or by your local Health Department. Water often may look, taste, and smell perfectly fine but can possibly harbor by products that are unsafe to consume. Water testing can range from a simple “general potability” test to much more extensive chemical testing. With our extensive knowledge of the problems in the local area, we would be happy to guide you in determining your testing needs.

2Why is everything, including my hair, turning green?

Water on eastern Long Island generally has a pH value of between 5.4 and 7.2. pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity in a sample. As the numerical value decreases, the acidity increases dramatically. Water with a low pH is corrosive and causes a literal deterioration of the copper plumbing in your home. The blue/green is actually copper sulfate leaching into the water supply. By controlling the pH, we can neutralize the water thus preventing corrosion and eliminating the staining.

3What is causing the red/brown staining to occur on my shower walls and in my toilets?

Iron occurs naturally in the groundwater here on Long Island with certain areas having much higher concentrations than others. Iron, while being a problem aesthetically, is not considered to be harmful. Iron in the water will not only stain fixtures, tile, clothing, sidewalks, etc.....but will actually reduce the use able life of household appliances and will restrict the flow of water through the pipes.

4Our home is served by public water and is generally pretty good but we just can’t live with the chlorine taste and odor, is there anything we can do to remedy that?

Absolutely. We carry systems of all sizes to filter the chlorine taste and odor from the water. Whether we do it on the main line of the house, or at individual faucets in the home, we have the solutions for you.

5We had our water tested and everything seems to be fine but I want to give my family the highest purity water possible, is there a system for us?

Of course. To get the highest purity water on a residential basis we recommend a reverse osmosis water filtration system. Such a system would provide ultra purified water to single taps in the home and to residential icemakers. Not only are they very affordable, they offer a high degree of protection from contaminants that may enter the water supply. We also offer numerous designer faucets to compliment nearly every finish made today.

6Our plumber says he has a great, cheap solution so do we really need a specialized company like L.I. Clean Water Service, Inc.?

Water treatment over the years has become a very specific field with years of knowledge and practical experience required to solve most dangerous water problems effectively. Undersizing or, worse yet, installing the wrong equipment would result in the contaminant still being left in the water. Water filtration and treatment has been our only business since 1985. We don’t install toilets, put in new wells, fix your leaky faucets, deliver your fuel oil, or clean your swimming pool. We filter your water. You wouldn’t have your plumber or handyman fix your car so why let him try to fix your water problem?
Common Water Problems

Common Water Problems

APPEARANCE: The first indication of water problems often begins with its appearance. Is the water discolored in any way coming out of the faucet? Is there any indication of reddish/brown or bluish/green tint to the water? These are usually signs of underlying water conditions which should be treated.

ODOR: Water should have NO detectable odor. Odor can be caused by organisms, gases, metallic or organic compounds in the water. A common odor problem in water is “sulfur smell”, sometimes described as “rotten egg odor”. This type of problem is often associated with hydrogen sulfide gas caused by rotting vegetation and is sometimes found in wells in lower lying areas near wetlands. This gas reacts with many things changing their chemistry and color, such as changing silver to black and the taste of food and water.

PARTICULATE MATTER: Water should have NO visible suspended materials (sediment). Particles of sand, rust, plastic, organic matter, pipe scale, manganese or other introduced matter are sources of this problem. This type of condition raises havoc with controls on today’s modern appliances and utilities, causing clogging of screens, solonoids, sprinkler heads, faucet aerators, and boiler controls.

TASTE: Water should generally have a “neutral” flavor so taste is often an indicator of underlying problems.

pH: Is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of water. Neutral water is 7.0. Lower is acid, higher is alkaline. The range is 0 to 14, like the “Richter Scale” in earthquakes, it is geometric. This means that water with a pH of 5.0 is ten times more acid than water that is 6.0. Water with a pH of 4.0 is 100 times more acid than that of 6.0. Alkaline water is hard on the skin, hair or any appliance. Acid water slowly dissolves metals such as copper, lead, aluminum, iron and zinc, which are used or have been used in plumbing systems. Symptoms of corrosive water are blue-green stains. Correction is recommended for any pH below 6.5 or above 8.5.

HARDNESS: Hard water has dissolved limestone in it. Limestone is mostly calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is everywhere, and of which, teeth, bones, seashells, pearls, mother of pearl. Stalactites and stalagmites, the “White Cliffs of Dover”, marble and the “Carlsbad Caverns”, for example, are made. When hard water is heated, it causes scale to form inside pipes, causing constriction. Hard water reacts with soap causing soap scum, the stuff of which bathtub rings are made. It coats your skin, your hair, your appliances, your dishes and flatware. It can cause dry skin, rashes and acne. Correction is recommended for any reading over 3.5 grains per gallon, and pays for itself in cost savings.

IRON & MANGANESE: This is easily one of the most prevalent problems on eastern Long Island and the most recognizable to water users. As little as 0.3 parts per million (ppm) of iron causes orange stains. Just 0.050 ppm of manganese causes black smoky stains. Water high in Manganese will often manifest itself when water is heated and will stain the inside of the dishwasher and the backs of dishes. Iron and manganese give water a bad taste and odor and will cause staining of laundry and plumbing fixtures.

CHLORINE: Municipal water supplies chlorinate their water resulting in residuals of from 0.1 to 2.0 ppm to kill microbiology. Chlorine is very effective in destroying bacteria, viruses and other organisms. Unfortunately, it is a two edged sword. In the early 1970’s it was discovered that the chlorine reacts with common organic substances in the water to produce chemicals called trihalomethanes (THM’s). THM’s are cancer-causing substances and have recently been linked to increased risk of colon and rectal cancer. Naturally, these substances should not be in the water with which we drink and cook.

NITRATES & NITRITES: Usually the result of over-fertilizing in agriculture or signs of a failed septic system, nitrates & nitrites are a serious health concern that, like lead and other toxic heavy metals, affect brain growth and development. It is known as a neurological dysfunction agent. Thus it is more severe to the young. Infants and the unborn are more affected than adults are. Correction for contamination near and above 10 ppm is strongly recommended.